With CSAs, public shares bounty, risk along with farmers

MADISON >> It was 10 years ago when Wendy and Asher Burkhart-Spiegel had the vision to develop and maintain a community farm.

The couple both had an extensive background in farming. Wendy grew up on a dairy farm in New Hampshire and has worked on various farms growing various items, including strawberries and organic vegetables. Asher has worked on organic gardens, milked cows and pruned apples. Both hold bachelor's degrees in environmental conservation from the University of New Hampshire.

After working as farm managers at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, the family traveled to Central New York to establish their own community farm.

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"Our main goals are to grow healthy food for local communities and to work in a way that's good to the Earth," Wendy said.

They recently purchased Common Thread Community Farm at 3424 Lake Moraine Road in Madison. There are 10 acres of vegetables, berries, flowers and herbs, which serve as a farm share that supplies members with seasonal food.

It is also considered a Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA. This means the community members pay the farmers for a growing season. Then the members can either go to the farm and pick up their share of items, or pick up the items from a specific pick up location. At the Common Thread Community Farm, prices range from $135 to $650 for shares depending on the amount and season.

The concept started in Europe and came to the United States in the mid-1980s, according to the National Agriculture Library site. Since then, the numbers have grown and roughly 6,000 are located in the U.S.

Wendy said they also provide opportunities for people to connect with the land and their community while contributing to a sustainable food system.

The farm will have open house events on Saturdays, May 4 and 11, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.